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SUMMARY:Promoted Event: Rethinking Neuroinclusion
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://keap.page/qjf592/rethinking-neuroinclusion.html#new_tab
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:past-events,Webinar,Women in TechWorks
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SUMMARY:Women in TechWorks: Fireside Chat with Farah Comis\, CEO of Altro Photonics
DESCRIPTION:Farah Comis is the CEO of Altro Photonics.  She completed her PhD in the Optical Networks Group at University College London (UCL)\, supervised by Dr. Alfonso Ruocco. She holds an MEng in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from UCL and an MRes in Connected Electronic and Photonic Systems from the University of Cambridge. \nHer PhD thesis\, Integrated Photonic Platforms for Next-Generation Optical Transmitters\, focused on integrated photonics using high-index-contrast platforms including silicon nitride on insulator (SiNOI) and lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI). She developed state-of-the-art silicon and lithium-niobate modulators and quantum devices\, resulting in first-author publications in Optics Express and Optics Letters\, a patent filing\, and presentations at IEEE Silicon Photonics and CLEO\, as well as an invited talk at the CORNERSTONE User Day. \nAlongside her research\, Farah is spinning out technology from UCL into a spin-out. She is part of the Future Worlds accelerator and previously participated in the 50:50 program backed by 50 Years VC\, supporting the commercialisation of an integrated photonics platform.
URL:https://techworks.org.uk/event/women-in-techworks-fireside-chat-with-farah-comis-ucl/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:past-events,TechWorks,Women in TechWorks
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SUMMARY:Women in TechWorks: Engineering Intelligently
DESCRIPTION:AgendaSpeakers and PanelJoin us for the first in-person Women in TechWorks event at Arm\, bringing together women and allies from across the semiconductor and technology ecosystem.CLICK HERE to find out more about Women in TechWorks\nCLICK HERE to find out how you can sponsor this event \nAs a growing network\, Women in TechWorks is dedicated to fostering connection\, mentorship\, visibility\, leadership\, and inclusion. Helping to create stronger pathways for women to develop and thrive in deep tech. \nWhile recognition is important\, meaningful progress happens through everyday actions: creating space for diverse voices\, challenging assumptions\, empowering talent to succeed\, and actively supporting one another as allies. \nFounded by Jillian Hughes together with the Women in TechWorks board\, the initiative was created to strengthen the sector’s talent pipeline through mentoring\, training\, and increased visibility for women across the industry. \nOur goal is to help women make a bigger\, more significant contribution to the sector’s prospects by attracting\, supporting\, and advancing them at each stage of their career path. \nThis event will also explore key topics shaping the industry today\, including artificial intelligence and the future of engineering. \nEvent Sessions\nMentoring \, Leadership and Retention – Are we moving the needle? \nWe are exploring a session focused on mentoring\, leadership\, and the retention of women in technology\, looking at what organisations are doing in practice to support progression and long-term careers for women in the sector. The discussion will consider how companies are building effective mentorship and sponsorship programmes\, developing leadership pipelines\, and creating inclusive cultures that enable women to thrive and progress. We are particularly interested in hearing how organisations are using data\, technology and emerging tools such as AI to identify gaps\, address barriers\, and create scalable pathways for advancement. Speakers would be invited to share practical insights\, lessons learned\, and reflections on whether current initiatives are truly shifting the needle in improving representation and retention of women in tech. \nTrends in the Workplace – Solving Complex Problems Using AI \nIndustry experts will share how engineers are using AI to analyse complex data\, accelerate innovation and unlock new approaches to technical challenges. The session will also highlight the contributions of women engineers in shaping these\, exploring how diverse perspectives can influence problem-solving\, innovation and the way complex technical challenges are approached. \nFrom Strategy to Systems: Executive Leadership in AI Era \nThis session will explore how organisations are moving beyond AI strategy to real-world implementation across technology\, teams and operations. We are particularly interested in hearing whether companies have successfully transitioned from planning to practical adoption\, what that journey has looked like\, and the challenges encountered along the way. The discussion will also consider the role of women leaders in shaping how AI is adopted and governed\, ensuring diverse leadership voices are represented in decisions that will define the future of AI-enabled organisations. \n  \nWhy attend\n\nConnect with women and allies from across the semiconductor and deep tech ecosystem.\nHear practical perspectives on leadership\, mentoring and career development.\nExplore how current trends such as AI are affecting engineering and progression.\nBe part of shaping a growing community focused on visibility\, inclusion\, and opportunity for women in tech.\n\nWhat you will take away\n\nNew connections across the ecosystem\nFresh perspectives on leadership and career development\nInsight into how AI is influencing engineering and workplace practices.\nA clearer sense of how Women in Techworks can support progression and visibility in the sector.\n\nJoin Us\nJoin us at Arm\, Cambridge for a day of knowledge sharing \, discussion and networking with leaders across the deep tech community. \nRegister now to secure your place and be part of the discussion shaping the future of engineering and leadership in the AI era. \nAgenda\n\n\n\n\nTime\nDetails\n\n\n\n\n09:00\nRegistration\n\n\n09:30\nOpening remarks Jillian Hughes\, Founder\, Women in TechWorks\n\n\n09:40\nDSIT – Task Force\n\n\n10:00\nKeynote Charlotte Eaton\, Chief People Officer\, Arm\n\n\n10:20\nMahdieh Ghoddusi\, Director of Delivery\, UKESF\n\n\n10:30\nNetworking Break Sponsored by Arm\n\n\n11:00\nMentoring \, Leadership and Retention – Are we moving the needle? – Hosted by Dr Becky Ellis\, Senior Manager Research Enablement\, Arm\n\n\n\nFrom Community to Competitive Advantage: The Power of Women’s ERGs in Tech Rachel Rees\, UK Committee Chair\,  Women@arm ERG\n\n\n\nEmpowering High performance teams Lee Harrison\, Marketing Director\, Siemens EDA\n\n\n\nSvetlana Grant\, Strategic Partnership Lead for Robotics\, Google DeepMind\n\n\n\nJanet Collyer MBE\, Portfolio Board Director and government advisor\n\n\n\nFrom Competent to Confident: What Actually Moves the Needle in Mentoring Women in Tech Dr Jan Peters MBE\, Director\, Katalytik\n\n\n\nInteractive Audience Discussion\n\n\n12:55\nNetworking Lunch\n\n\n13:55\nAI Trends in the workplace – Solving complex problems using AI – Hosted by Ras Attale\, Co-chair\, Women in TechWorks\n\n\n\nFrom Personal Knowledge Management to Augmented Cognition: Engineering the ‘Second Brain’ for AI-Enabled Technical Leadership Krishnapriya C.R.\, Senior Director of Engineering\, Arm\n\n\n\nEngineering AI Ethics-by-Design in Automotive: Standards & Regulations Dr Paula Palade\, AI Ethics Technical Specialist\, Jaguar Land Rover\n\n\n\nEngineering Innovation in RF Design: From Simulation Automation to AI-Driven Optimization Fatemeh Hoveizavi\, Business Development Manager\, EDRMEDESO\n\n\n\nPhysical AI: Unlocking intelligence to realise the Internet of Everything Catherine Ramsdale\, Senior Vice President Technology\, Pragmatic Semiconductor\n\n\n\nWhat the heck shall we do with the tech?! Julia Shalet\, Managing Director\, Product Doctor\n\n\n\nInteractive Audience Discussion\n\n\n15:50\nNetworking break\n\n\n16:20\nFrom Strategy to Systems: Executive Leadership in an AI Era\n\n\n\nPanel moderated by Helen Ledger\, Senior Vice President of Marketing\, Pragmatic Semiconductor Panellists: Caroline O’Brien\, CEO\, CSA Catapult Farah Comis\, CEO\, Altro Photonics Karima Dridi\, Head of Productivity Engineering\, CE-PE\, Arm Jen Walls\, CEO\, Clas-SiC\n\n\n17:00\nClosing Remarks\, Finish and networking\n\n\n19:00\nDrinks at Wilde Aparthotels\, Cambridge City Centre\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n09:00\nRegistration\n09:30\nOpening remarks\nJillian Hughes\, Founder\, Women in TechWorks\n09:40\nDSIT – Task Force\n10:00\nKeynote\nCharlotte Eaton\, Chief People Officer\, Arm\n10:20\nMahdieh Ghoddusi\, Director of Delivery\, UKESF\n10:30\nNetworking Break Sponsored by Arm\n11:00\nMentoring\, Leadership and Retention – Are we moving the needle? – Hosted by Dr Becky Ellis\, Senior Manager Research Enablement\, Arm\n\nFrom Community to Competitive Advantage: The Power of Women’s ERGs in Tech\nRachel Rees\, UK Committee Chair\,  Women@arm ERG\n \nEmpowering High performance teams\nLee Harrison\, Marketing Director\, Siemens EDA\n \nSvetlana Grant\, Strategic Partnership Lead for Robotics\, Google DeepMind\n \nJanet Collyer MBE\, Portfolio Board Director and government advisor \nFrom Competent to Confident: What Actually Moves the Needle in Mentoring Women in Tech\nDr Jan Peters MBE\, Director\, Katalytik \nInteractive Audience Discussion \n12:55\nNetworking Lunch\n13:55\nAI Trends in the workplace – Solving complex problems using AI – Hosted by Ras Attale\, Co-chair\, Women in TechWorks\n\nFrom personal Knowledge Management to Augmented Cognition: Engineering  the ‘Second Brain’  for AI Enabled  Technical Leadership\nKrishnapriya C.R.\, Senior Director of Engineering\, Arm \nEngineering AI Ethics-by-Design in Automotive: Standards & Regulations\nDr Paula Palade\, AI Ethics Technical Specialist\, Jaguar Land Rover \nEngineering Innovation in RF Design: From Simulation Automation to AI-Driven Optimization\nFatemeh Hoveizavi\, Business Development Manager\, EDRMEDESO\n \nPhysical AI: Unlocking intelligence to realise the Internet of Everything\nCatherine Ramsdale\, Senior Vice President Technology\, Pragmatic Semiconductor\n \nWhat the heck shall we do with the tech?!\nJulia Shalet\, Managing Director\, Product Doctor \nInteractive Audience Discussion \n15:50\nNetworking break \n16:20\nFrom Strategy to Systems: Executive Leadership in an AI Era\n\nPanel moderated by Helen Ledger\, Senior Vice President of Marketing\, Pragmatic Semiconductor \nPanellists:\nCaroline O’Brien\, CEO\, CSA Catapult\nFarah Comis\, CEO\, Altro Photonics\nKarima Dridi\, Head of Productivity Engineering\, CE-PE\, Arm\nJen Walls\, CEO\, Clas-SiC\nJon Michaels\, Director\, microTECH \n17:00\n Closing Remarks\, Finish and networking\n19:00\nDrinks at Wilde Aparthotels\, Cambridge City Centre\n\n\n\nSpeakersDetailsDr. Paula PaladeAI Ethics Technical Specialist\, Jaguar Land Rover \n×Dr Paula Palade\nDr Paula Palade is an internationally recognised expert in AI ethics\, driving safety and ethical standards for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) at Jaguar Land Rover\, as well as at European and global levels. With over a decade of experience in automotive engineering\, AI ethics\, and standardisation\, she has made substantial contributions to the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and the European Commission. Her mission is to ensure that AI is applied in a way that is ethical\, sustainable\, and beneficial to society.\nAs the AI Ethics Technical Specialist at Jaguar Land Rover\, Dr Palade leads the development and implementation of ethical principles and best practices for CAVs. Her academic background in electrical engineering includes a PhD\, multiple patents\, and publications in leading journals. She is deeply committed to using AI responsibly to improve lives across the automotive sector. Dr Palade’s work has earned her numerous accolades\, including Automotive Rising Star of the Year 2024 (US Detroit AutoTech)\, Top 50 Women in Engineering UK 2024\, and inclusion in the UK TechWomen100 and Autocar Top 100 Women in Automotive. She is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in engineering\, serving as a STEM Ambassador\, Women in Engineering Mentor\, and Chartered Engineer mentor for the IET. She contributed to the European Commission’s report on the Ethics of CAVs\, providing 20 key recommendations shaping policy and legislation. Beyond her technical roles\, she regularly speaks at public events\, runs webinars on CAV safety\, and facilitates strategy for INCOSE and the IET.\nDetailsDr Jan Peters MBEDirector\, Katalytik \n×Jan Peters\n\nJan Peters is a globally recognised inclusion expert with over 25 years of experience combining a strong technical background in engineering with a focus on building diverse\, people-centred organisations. As director of Katalytik\, she has led influential research and developed practical tools to improve inclusion in engineering and construction\, while also contributing to higher education through programmes like UCL’s Integrated Engineering Programme and mentoring initiatives supporting over 1\,500 women. Her career spans industry\, academia\, and public policy\, and includes leadership roles such as President of the Women’s Engineering Society and recognition with an MBE in 2017. Her work is driven by a commitment to systemic\, evidence-based approaches to inclusion that deliver measurable impact. \nPresentation: From competent to confident: what actually moves the needle in mentoring women in tech \nThis talk explores why\, despite the growth of mentoring programmes for women in tech\, retention and progression remain stalled. Drawing on 25 years of experience and a decade of the WIBEC programme\, it argues that effective mentoring depends on structured design—careful matching\, trained mentors\, clear timeframes\, and shared frameworks like CliftonStrengths—but also highlights a deeper issue: a persistent confidence gap rather than a skills gap. It shows how systemic challenges such as unstable funding\, duplicated initiatives\, and lack of long-term investment undermine even well-designed schemes. While new tools\, including AI\, offer opportunities to scale impact\, the key message is that mentoring must be treated as a strategic\, evidence-based practice—not a “nice-to-have”—with proper resources\, coordination\, and commitment to truly support women’s progression in engineering and technology. \n\nDetailsJillian HughesHead of Semiconductors & DESN Network Director \n×Jillian Hughes\n\nJillian Hughes began her career with a recognised apprenticeship at National Semiconductor in Greenock\, Scotland\, completing her training in 1991. Over the next 15 years\, she built deep technical expertise in semiconductor equipment and process engineering\, working with major multinational companies including Seagate Microelectronics\, Motorola\, and Freescale Semiconductor. \nShe went on to lead operations across several specialised semiconductor businesses\, focusing on the manufacture\, refurbishment\, sale\, and service of high value capital equipment. \nIn April 2020\, Jillian was appointed NMI Director at Techworks\, the UK’s semiconductor trade association. In this role\, she drew on her extensive industry knowledge to support UK semiconductor companies and worked closely with industry and academia to raise the sector’s profile within Government. \nJillian later served as Chief Operating and Financial Officer at Dalrada Technology and Deposition Technology\, where she oversaw the development and manufacture of advanced capital equipment for emerging semiconductor markets. She has since returned to Techworks as Head of Semiconductors\, leading the Semiconductor Systems Design Network (DESN) and bringing together the UK’s dynamic chip design community to drive collaboration\, innovation\, and knowledge sharing. \nJillian also serves on the Board of Directors at Wafer Fab Solutions\, where she provides strategic business and financial guidance. \n\nDetailsLee HarrisonDirector of Product Marketing\, Tessent\, Siemens EDA \n×Lee Harrison\n\nLee Harrison is Director\, Product Marketing\, with Siemens Tessent Division. He has over 25 years of industry experience working with Siemens Tessent DFT products\, with a focus on safety and security. Lee Received his BEng in MicroElectronic Engineering from Brunel University London in 1996. Lee presents regularly at industry conferences such as DAC\, ITC\, VTS\, ETS\, and DATE. \n\nDetailsFatemeh HoveizaviBusiness development manager\, EDRMEDESO \n×Fatemeh Hoveizavi\n\nEngineering Innovation in RF Design: From Simulation Automation to AI-Driven Optimization \nThis talk presents a practical approach to accelerating engineering innovation in RF and antenna design through automation and emerging AI-driven methodologies. Using phased array antenna design as a case study\, I will demonstrate how Python-based workflows with PyAEDT can significantly streamline simulation processes\, reduce design cycles\, and improve reproducibility. \nThe session will highlight real-world engineering challenges in high-frequency system design and how automation enables more efficient exploration of complex design spaces. Building on this\, I will discuss how such workflows create a foundation for integrating AI and optimization techniques\, opening the door to smarter\, data-driven engineering practices. \nBeyond the technical aspects\, the talk will also reflect on the evolving role of engineers—where multidisciplinary skills\, adaptability\, and inclusive collaboration are key to building high-performing teams and delivering impactful solutions. \nThis presentation is aimed at engineers and technical leaders interested in bridging practical engineering workflows with emerging technologies such as AI\, while maintaining strong engineering fundamentals and best practices. \nBiography \nFatemeh Hoveizavi is a Technical Business Development Leader with over 15 years’ experience in electronic design\, simulation\, and advanced engineering systems. Holding a PhD in Telecommunications Engineering\, she specialises in electromagnetics\, RF/microwave engineering\, and semiconductor technologies. Working in the EDA sector\, she supports organisations across the full product lifecycle\, from concept to system-level verification\, solving complex challenges in areas such as PCB design\, IC/ASIC development\, and simulation. She bridges technical and business domains to drive technology adoption and growth. She also contributes to academia and actively promotes diversity\, supporting women pursuing careers in engineering and high-impact technology fields. \n\nDetailsCharlotte EatonChief People Officer\, Arm \n×Charlotte Eaton\n\nIn her role as Chief People Officer\, Charlotte oversees all aspects of Arm’s people\, workplace\, and sustainability strategies. Over the course of her career\, Charlotte has shaped her experience across multiple sectors with rapid adaptation and change\, and is passionate about building progressive\, inclusive\, purpose-led organizations. She thrives in seeking new ways of doing great things and inspiring others to think differently about the world of work while making it happen. \nBefore joining Arm\, Charlotte was Chief People Officer at OVO\, one of the UK’s largest energy companies\, focused on sustainability and renewable energy. In her role\, she was responsible for people\, property\, and customer experience. Prior to OVO\, Charlotte spent six years at Arm\, latterly as VP of People\, supporting teams in the Intellectual Property Group (IPG) globally. Before Arm\, Charlotte held HR leadership roles at The Heinz Company and worked at Barclays. Charlotte holds an LL.B. with first class honors. \n\nDetailsJulia ShaletManaging Director\, Product Doctor \n×Julia Shalet\n\nWhat the heck shall we do with the tech?! \nJulia “grew up” in a tech-driven industry. Her first job was as part of the launch team for the first mass market consumer mobile offering in the UK. Fast forward to now; countless new technologies later – for better and for worse – and the lessons remain the same. \nHow can we\, as individuals\, help our colleagues\, teams and organisations to cut through the hype and engineer intelligently. \nIn this talk\, Julia will give some practical models and examples to help us \n\nStay ahead & innovate whilst managing existing portfolios\nFocus on solving user problems and\nEnable a culture of learning as we need to discover what works and what doesn’t\n\nWe will have an opportunity to share stories from the coal-face\, consider what we have learned & take a moment to reflect on how we can be resilient\, responsive & adaptable. \nBiography \nJulia has built a career focused on maximising the real-world impact and commercial success of new technologies. From leading product strategy in the shift from 2G to 4G\, to scaling a Web 2.0 venture\, she has consistently worked at the forefront of innovation. Over the past decade\, she has helped established organisations transform through customer-centric\, product-led models. She also teaches innovation management at University College London and the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Her award-winning book The Really Good Idea Test has global reach\, and she has received multiple recognitions for her impact in innovation and entrepreneurship. \n\nDetailsMahdieh GhoddusiDirector of Delivery\, UKESF \n×Mahdieh Ghoddusi\n\nMahdieh Ghoddusi is Director of Delivery at the UK Electronics Skills Foundation\, where she leads the design and delivery of national initiatives that build the UK’s future electronics and semiconductor workforce. Working at the intersection of industry\, academia\, and government\, she develops high-impact approaches that strengthen early-career talent pipelines and address critical skills gaps across the sector. \nShe brings over 17 years of experience within a global technology organisation\, where she led programmes spanning early-career development and technical capability building for engineering teams. Her work included designing and delivering graduate and intern programmes\, as well as developing engineers across the business in emerging technologies and key industry domains\, including semiconductors. She also worked closely with universities through product-led engagement\, driving adoption of engineering tools and platforms. \nAt UKESF\, Mahdieh oversees a portfolio of activity spanning student development and outreach\, including initiatives such as Girls into Electronics\, which aim to broaden participation and inspire more young women to pursue pathways into engineering and technology. \nShe holds a BEng in Electronics Engineering from the University of Reading \n\nDetailsKrishnapriya C.RSenior Director of Engineering\, Arm  \n×Krishnapriya C.R \n\nKrishnapriya C.R is a Senior Director of Engineering at Arm Ltd\, UK\, where she leads the development of several strategic hardware products\, including cutting-edge AI systems. She has a strong track record of building and scaling high-performing teams to deliver innovative\, ground-up designs on time. Her organisation of over several hundred engineers spans Manchester\, Sheffield\, Cambridge\, Bristol\, Budapest (Hungary)\, and Bangalore (India). \nPrior to joining Arm\, Krishnapriya was Head of Product Definition at Infineon\, where she led the UK-based system architecture team for automotive microcontrollers. She brings deep hands-on experience across design\, verification\, and architecture development of IPs and SoCs\, combining technical expertise with a passion for building strong teams\, creating competitive products\, and helping engineers reach their full potential. \nShe is an advisory board member of Microelectronics UK\, and a strong advocate for applying AI across all aspects of R&D to improve efficiency and innovation\, and regularly shares her experience building AI-enabled software through webinars and in-person events. She is also an experienced mentor\, supporting engineers—particularly women—both within Arm and beyond. \n\nDetailsRachel ReesUK Committee Chair\, Women@arm ERG \n×Rachel Rees \n\nFrom Community to Competitive Advantage: The Power of Women’s ERGs in Tech \nWomen’s ERGs are no longer just support networks—they’re strategic drivers of business performance in the tech industry. \nThis presentation will show how they strengthen talent pipelines\, improve retention\, and accelerate leadership development through mentoring\, sponsorship\, and increased visibility of emerging talent. It will also highlight how ERGs provide critical insights into employee experience\, helping organisations remove barriers and build more inclusive cultures. \nAs technologies like AI reshape the industry\, we’ll explore how ERGs contribute to better decision-making and innovation by ensuring diverse perspectives are represented. \nUltimately\, this session makes the case for why Women’s ERGs are essential to building resilient\, competitive\, future-ready organisations. \nBiography \nRachel Rees is a Senior Licensing Manager at Arm\, working in the Partner Success and Licensing team and at the centre of the global semiconductor ecosystem\, where she helps to drive strategic partnerships enabling next-generation technologies. \nAlongside her commercial role\, she also chairs the Arm UK Women’s Employee Resource Group committee\, championing initiatives that advance inclusion\, strengthen talent pipelines and accelerate the progression of women in tech.\nWith over 20 years at Arm\, Rachel is a passionate advocate for mentoring and sponsorship\, and for translating inclusion into measurable impact. She brings a clear perspective on how diverse teams drive stronger innovation and better business outcomes and how building inclusive\, high-performing cultures can enable both individuals and organisations to thrive in a rapidly evolving technology landscape. \n\nDetailsCatherine RamsdaleSVP Technology\, Pragmatic Semiconductor  \n×Catherine Ramsdale\n\nPhysical AI: Unlocking intelligence to realise the Internet of Everything \nAI is only as powerful as the data it can access\, and today\, most of the physical world remains invisible. \nAs digital transformation accelerates\, the shift from the Internet of Things to the Internet of Everything is unlocking a new era of intelligence across consumer\, industrial\, healthcare and beyond. At the heart of this evolution are semiconductors\, enabling connectivity and compute across cloud\, edge and far edge – turning everyday objects into intelligent\, decision-making systems. \nHowever\, the semiconductor industry faces a range of unprecedented global challenges\, from supply chain constraints\, geopolitical uncertainties to sustainability challenges. These have all compounded to disrupt multiple industries\, delayed manufacturing and impacted economic growth. It’s also an imperative that we build for a solid future\, diverse talent pipeline\, where everyone can thrive in their careers. \nIt’s going to take a different approach to tackle these challenges\, diverging from established paradigms. That’s the approach that Pragmatic has taken. \nIn this session\, as part of the initial founding team at Pragmatic\, I’ll share how we are rethinking semiconductors\, and enabling physical AI through ultra-thin\, flexible\, and sustainable technology that enables intelligence where it previously wasn’t feasible\, or even possible. I’ll share some examples of how the technology is empowering physical AI and the tremendous opportunities this opens with possible future innovations. \nAlongside this\, I’ll reflect on my personal journey from “lab to fab\,” sharing practical insights on leadership\, resilience\, and how we build the diverse\, future-ready talent pipeline needed to sustain innovation. \nThe opportunity is clear: when we connect the physical and digital worlds at scale\, we don’t just optimise systems\, we redefine what’s possible. \nBiography \nCatherine is a pioneer of ultra-thin semiconductor circuitry on flexible substrates. Consistently at the cutting edge of technology\, she has over 20 years’ industrial experience in the flexible electronics field.\nCatherine is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering\, holds a PhD in organic electronics from the University of Cambridge\, and is co-creator of 18 inventions\, leading to 64 granted patents. \n\nDetailsSvetlana GrantStrategic Partnership Lead for Robotics\, Google DeepMind \n×Svetlana Grant\n\nPrior to her career in AI and robotics\, Svetlana worked on mobile innovation and Internet of Things. She ran an innovation team at Vodafone Business IoT Technology division\, and prior to that\, managed an IoT program at the GSMA and worked as a telecom industry analyst. After years of working in the telco industry\, she decided that AI was too fascinating to miss\, graduated with MSc in Integrated ML Systems from UCL and joined DeepMind in 2022. She is a reading addict\, a table tennis club organiser\, and a keen gardener. \n\nDetailsJanet Collyer MBEPortfolio Board Director and government advisor \n×Janet Collyer\nJanet is Chair of the Board at Quantum Dice\, Independent NED and Advisor at Mach42\, Independent NED at the Aerospace Technology Institute and also a member of the UK Government’s Semiconductor Advisory Panel and member of National Physics Laboratory’s Major Programme Portfolio Advisory Council.Prior to her portfolio career she held senior positions within the semiconductor industry most recently as Strategic Group Director at Cadence Designs System leading international teams\, driving bespoke approaches and effective ecosystem partnerships that delivered business revenue growth across the semiconductor supply chain. \nAfter her engineering degree at Girton College Cambridge University she worked in the USA and UK in semiconductor design through to manufactured product shipping in volume. She and her team taped out over 300 devices.\nShe then moved into roles in electronic design automation at Cadence which spanned technical application engineering\, product management\, project management\, global services\, IP and software sales director. Her final role was as International Group Director Strategic Accounts. \nIn the 2025 New Year’s honours list she was awarded an MBE for services to quantum hardware and cyber security.\nLater in 2025 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from Electronics Weekly Women Leaders in Electronics and was named in the top 5 of Computer Weekly’s most influential woman in UK technology. \nShe mentors STEM professionals from under represented groups as they progress through the ranks all the way to C-suite. \n\nSession HostsDetailsRas AttaleSenior Hardware Engineer\, Siemens \n×Ras Attale\nA Senior Hardware Engineer at Siemens\, with nearly seven years of experience on the team. Previously worked at Arm\, contributing to their verification team in Cortex A. Also currently pursuing a Master’s in Cybersecurity at the University of Oxford.\nDetailsDr Becky EllisSenior Manager Research Enablement\, Arm \n×Dr Becky Ellis\nDr Becky Ellis is a research enablement and programme leader with more than 20 years’ experience driving community growth\, stakeholder engagement and talent development across education and technology. At Arm\, she leads the global Arm Academic Access initiative that democratises access to semiconductor and SoC design technologies\, enabling universities worldwide to advance research\, education and innovation.\nPanellistsDetailsHelen LedgerSenior Vice President of Marketing\, Pragmatic Semiconductor \n×Helen Ledger\n\nPanel Moderator \nHelen Ledger is a global B2B marketing leader with over 20 years’ experience driving growth\, brand leadership and market creation spanning AI\, IoT and semiconductor technologies. \nCurrently\, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Pragmatic Semiconductor\, she leads the global corporate marketing function\, shaping the company’s brand\, communication and public affairs activities\, while building high-performing teams and scalable demand engines. \nPreviously\, Helen held senior marketing leadership roles at Qualcomm\, where she led marketing for IoT and Automotive\, and contributed to multi-billion-dollar growth initiatives through integrated marketing\, brand strategy and ecosystem partnerships. Prior roles span marketing leadership positions based in London at D-Link\, a Taiwanese networking manufacturer and British Telecom\, and Sophia-Antipolis\, France with France Telecom. \nHelen is passionate about inclusive leadership\, developing talent\, and aligning marketing as a true growth engine for business transformation \n\nDetailsCaroline O’BrienCEO\, CSA Catapult \n×Caroline O'Brien\n\nA semiconductor industry specialist\, Caroline O’Brien brings over 30 years of experience in the technology sector\, where she has developed a broad knowledge of working with VC-backed businesses and blue-chip multinationals. \nShe has held senior commercial and executive positions in several companies\, focusing on developing and commercialising new technologies and products. \nCaroline holds a B.Eng in Electronics and Electrical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Bath. \n\nDetailsFarah ComisCEO\, Altro Photonics \n×Farah Comis \n\nFarah Comis is the CEO of Altro Photonics.  She completed her PhD in the Optical Networks Group at University College London (UCL)\, supervised by Dr. Alfonso Ruocco. She holds an MEng in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from UCL and an MRes in Connected Electronic and Photonic Systems from the University of Cambridge. \nHer PhD thesis\, Integrated Photonic Platforms for Next-Generation Optical Transmitters\, focused on integrated photonics using high-index-contrast platforms including silicon nitride on insulator (SiNOI) and lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI). She developed state-of-the-art silicon and lithium-niobate modulators and quantum devices\, resulting in first-author publications in Optics Express and Optics Letters\, a patent filing\, and presentations at IEEE Silicon Photonics and CLEO\, as well as an invited talk at the CORNERSTONE User Day. \nAlongside her research\, Farah is spinning out technology from UCL into a spin-out. She is part of the Future Worlds accelerator and previously participated in the 50:50 program backed by 50 Years VC\, supporting the commercialisation of an integrated photonics platform. \n\nDetailsJen WallsCEO\, Clas-SiC \n×Jen Walls\n\nJen brings over 30 years Semiconductor Industry experience within operational and managerial positions in Equipment\, Process Engineering\, Process Development and Business Management. Jen has successfully led many SiC projects and was key in the early Silicon Carbide industry engagements in the UK. She is an Engineering and MBA graduate and is a certified 6-sigma green belt practitioner. Jen joined Clas-SiC as Chief Operations Officer\, stepping up to the CEO role from January 2024. Since moving into the role\, Clas-SiC has secured equity investment to secure the next part of their technology roadmap as the company continues to grow. \n\nDetailsKarima DridiHead of Productivity Engineering (CE-PE)\, Arm \n×Karima Dridi\n\nKarima Dridi is Head of Productivity Engineering at Arm\, where she is driving the transformation of engineering enablement through infrastructure\, tooling\, and AIpowered workflows. \nBefore leading PE\, Karima headed up Delivery and Engineering Enablement within Central Engineering Operations\, focusing on technical resources\, compliance\, and lifecycle management. With over 20 years in the semiconductor industry — including roles at Infineon\, Texas Instruments\, and Arm. \nKarima has built and led global teams across SoC design\, CPU delivery\, and strategic engineering initiatives. Karima is passionate about empowering engineers through scalable systems\, smart automation\, and a bold\, 10X mindset. \n\nDetailsJon MichaelsDirector\, microTECH \n×Jon Michaels\n\nJon Michaels is the Director and Co-founder of microTECH Global Ltd\, a talent solutions firm specialising in the Deep Tech sector with Divisions spanning Semiconductors\, Technology including AI\, Software & Hardware Electronics and Executive search. Jon co-founded microTECH Global in 2013 with the vision of delivering expert talent acquisition services to some of the most innovative and influential companies in the market. He graduated with an Electronics & Communications degree from Leeds Met and has over 20 years of recruitment experience within the Deep Tech industry. He remains hands-on to this day\, delivering exceptional talent to pre-seed\, seed-stage\, and established businesses\, with a deep understanding of each stage of growth and the scaling journey of a tech firm. \nUnder his leadership\, microTECH has grown into a multi-division\, multi-site organisation\, partnering with businesses of all sizes\, from early-stage start-ups to established global leaders. The company is recognised not only for sourcing high-impact talent\, on a permanent and consultancy basis\, but also for providing strategic hiring advice and supporting the development of long-term talent roadmaps. \nFrom building teams and launching new divisions to enabling complex talent transfers across Europe and beyond\, microTECH continues to be a trusted partner in driving growth and innovation across the tech landscape.
URL:https://techworks.org.uk/event/women-in-techworks-engineering-intelligently/
LOCATION:Arm\, 110 Fulbourn Rd\, Cambridge\, CB1 9NJ
CATEGORIES:past-events,TechWorks,Women in TechWorks
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260423T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260423T163000
DTSTAMP:20260612T121430Z
CREATED:20260302T111641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T121430Z
UID:5828-1776960000-1776961800@techworks.org.uk
SUMMARY:How to move from Individual Contributor to Leader in a Male Dominated Environment: A Women in TechWorks Fireside Chat
DESCRIPTION:Our speaker will be talking from two perspectives – firstly her own experience moving into leadership\, and secondly as a leader what I look for in high potential juniors and the behaviours that are helpful \nBiography \nEllie Bramer is an Engineering Manager at Arm\, where she leads multiple teams of software engineers at the intersection of advanced computing\, AI\, and ecosystem innovation. With a background as a systems engineer in the defence sector she has built her career in male-dominated environments\, progressing from individual contributor to experienced engineering leader. Ellie is passionate about building high-performing technical teams and creating pathways for more women to thrive and advance in engineering and tech fields.
URL:https://techworks.org.uk/event/how-to-move-from-individual-contributor-to-leader-in-a-male-dominated-environment-a-women-in-techworks-fireside-chat/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:past-events,TechWorks,WITW-Past Event,Women in TechWorks
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260325T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260325T150000
DTSTAMP:20260612T121627Z
CREATED:20260120T121646Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T121627Z
UID:4711-1774447200-1774450800@techworks.org.uk
SUMMARY:Women in TechWorks Webinar with Madhuparna Datta
DESCRIPTION:Madhuparna Datta\nVLSI & EDA expert\nMadhuparna is an EDA and VLSI expert with over 25 years semiconductor industry experience\, who has worked across UK\, India and Sweden. She started off with PCB & FPGA design in Telecom at C-DoT\, and then moved to the EDA industry at Cadence Design Systems where she has worked across Silicon-Package-Board as well as Digital Design and Implementation product lines. Currently an AE Director with people management role along with overall technical lead for digital and signoff technical campaigns across the region. She has been involved with CPU\, GPU and system IP designs on all the advanced nodes including 16nm\, 7nm\, 5nm\, 3nm etc. Her passion for STEM made her a SWE Global Ambassador and founder of SWE Cambridgeshire affiliate in September 2022\, the first global SWE affiliate in UK\, which helps provide networking and professional development opportunities for local engineers. She has been elected to the SWE senate for FY26-28. Mentoring engineers along their career path led to her winning the Electronics Weekly “Women Leaders in Electronics Awards 2024” for ‘Mentor of the year’ along with being finalist for ‘Leader of the year’ and ‘Woman of the year’. She was invited by UK Department of Science\, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to be part of the UK semiconductor delegation to India in March 2025 in recognition of her industry expertise. She is currently a trustee on the UKESF board due to great alignment on values and approaches towards encouraging more young people to study Electronics.
URL:https://techworks.org.uk/event/women-in-techworks-webinar-with-madhuparna-datta/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:past-events,TechWorks,WITW-Past Event,Women in TechWorks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://techworks.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/witw-webinar-0326.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260227T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260227T160000
DTSTAMP:20260224T100834Z
CREATED:20260223T164525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260224T100834Z
UID:5743-1772200800-1772208000@techworks.org.uk
SUMMARY:Design and Verification of Silicon Chips
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the University of Oxford\, Thom Building\, Engineering Science Department\, Oxford OX1 3PJ\nWhether you’re curious about chip design\, interested in quality assurance\, or simply want to understand what happens before a processor hits the market. Come along to: \n\nConnect with the semiconductor industry\nLearn about career opportunities in verification and related fields\nSpeak to industry professionals and experts in the field\n\nOpen to network professionals and all staff and students. We especially welcome students from Physics\, Materials\, Computer or Engineering Sciences and Maths. \nNote\, there is no registration\, please just pop along on the day.
URL:https://techworks.org.uk/event/design-and-verification-of-silicon-chips/
LOCATION:University of Oxford\, Parks Road\, Oxford\, OX1 3PJ
CATEGORIES:past-events,Promoted,TechWorks,Women in TechWorks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://techworks.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/uoo-event.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260224T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260224T143000
DTSTAMP:20260612T121719Z
CREATED:20260115T163919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T121719Z
UID:4691-1771941600-1771943400@techworks.org.uk
SUMMARY:Women in TechWorks Online Town Hall Event
DESCRIPTION:Our Women in TechWorks group will be hosting an online town hall webinar designed to bring members together and share important updates. This session will provide an opportunity to connect\, stay informed\, and engage with the broader community. \nDuring the webinar\, our Steering Group will share updates on current initiatives and highlight upcoming events and opportunities. Attendees will gain insight into what’s ahead and how to get involved in shaping the future of Women in TechWorks. \nHosted by Jillian Hughes\nHead of Semiconductors & DESN Network Director @ TechWorks and Women in TechWorks Founder \nJillian began her career with a recognised apprenticeship at National Semiconductor in Greenock\, Scotland\, completing her training in 1991. Over the next 15 years\, she built deep technical expertise in semiconductor equipment and process engineering\, working with major multinational companies including Seagate Microelectronics\, Motorola\, and Freescale Semiconductor. \nShe went on to lead operations across several specialised semiconductor businesses\, focusing on the manufacture\, refurbishment\, sale\, and service of high value capital equipment. \nIn April 2020\, Jillian was appointed NMI Director at Techworks\, the UK’s semiconductor trade association. In this role\, she drew on her extensive industry knowledge to support UK semiconductor companies and worked closely with industry and academia to raise the sector’s profile within Government. \nJillian later served as Chief Operating and Financial Officer at Dalrada Technology and Deposition Technology\, where she oversaw the development and manufacture of advanced capital equipment for emerging semiconductor markets. She has since returned to Techworks as Head of Semiconductors\, leading the Semiconductor Systems Design Network (DESN) and bringing together the UK’s dynamic chip design community to drive collaboration\, innovation\, and knowledge sharing. \nJillian also serves on the Board of Directors at Wafer Fab Solutions\, where she provides strategic business and financial guidance. \nRegister
URL:https://techworks.org.uk/event/women-in-techworks-online-town-hall-event/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:past-events,TechWorks,WITW-Past Event,Women in TechWorks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://techworks.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/NEW-Techworks-site-featured-images-2026-01-15T162120.028.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260113T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260113T163000
DTSTAMP:20260616T113653Z
CREATED:20251218T171900Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T113653Z
UID:4224-1768320000-1768321800@techworks.org.uk
SUMMARY:Women in TechWorks Fireside Chat with Alisha Dattani
DESCRIPTION:Women in TechWorks hosts its first fireside chat.\nThe January 2026 guest will be Alisha Dattani – CEO of FMXA\, “The award-winning go-to-market\, positioning\, and brand agency humanizing technology”.
URL:https://techworks.org.uk/event/women-in-techworks-fireside-chat-with-alisha-dattani/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:Past Event,past-events,TechWorks,Webinar,WITW-Past Event,Women in TechWorks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://techworks.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NEW-Techworks-site-featured-images-2025-12-18T171307.352.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251125T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251125T133000
DTSTAMP:20251106T161359Z
CREATED:20251106T161359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251106T161359Z
UID:3556-1764075600-1764077400@techworks.org.uk
SUMMARY:Women in TechWorks Webinar:  From root-cause to right-first-Time: Using proactive failure analysis to accelerate innovation
DESCRIPTION:Failure analysis has long been seen as a forensic science – a way to diagnose what went wrong after a product fails. \nBut what if we moved this expertise upstream? \nIn this talk\, I’ll share how traditional failure analysis techniques can be transformed from post-mortem tools into powerful methods for preventing failures in product and process development. \nBiography\nSuzanne Costello is a physicist and engineer who has spent her career uncovering the hidden stories inside materials. \nAfter graduating from Heriot-Watt University with a Master’s in Physics\, she earned an Engineering Doctorate in Microsystems Engineering. \nHer doctoral work on hermeticity testing led to the publication of a technical book that remains a reference in the field. \nFollowing her doctorate\, Suzanne transitioned directly into a role with her industry partner where she quickly excelled and ultimately rose to a leadership position. \nThis experience gave her deep insights into both the technical and commercial sides of the electronics industry. \nAlong the way\, Suzanne also became the first female Chair of IMAPS-UK\, championing collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the microelectronics community. \nShe founded Forensic Eyes to blend proactive and reactive failure analysis\, integrated product development support\, and tailored technical training to help engineers build more reliable products. \nWhen she’s not in the lab or leading a workshop\, Suzanne enjoys sharing her experience of being a woman in technology\, celebrating the progress made\, recognising the challenges that remain\, and inspiring others to see failure not as the end of a story\, but as the beginning of understanding.
URL:https://techworks.org.uk/event/women-in-techworks-webinar-from-root-cause-to-right-first-time-using-proactive-failure-analysis-to-accelerate-innovation/
LOCATION:Webinar
CATEGORIES:past-events,Webinar,Women in TechWorks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://techworks.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NEW-Techworks-site-featured-images-93.jpg
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